Cross-platform messaging system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a memory and a hardware processor. The hardware processor receives a first message from a first chat application and parses the first message to determine a plurality of words in the first message. The processor determines an intent of the first user and communicates a second message to the first chat application indicating the intent. The processor receives a third message confirming the intent and determines an action and an object. The processor determines a processing application and communicates a fourth message that includes the action and the object to the processing application. The processor receives a fifth message that indicates the results of performing the action on the object and communicates the fifth message to the first chat application. The processor receives a sixth message from a second, different chat application and communicates the sixth message to the first chat application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to chat messaging.

BACKGROUND

Users of computers and mobile devices use various chat messagingapplications to communicate with one another.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Users of computers and mobile devices use various chat messagingapplications to communicate with one another. These users can use thesemessaging applications to send messages to other users on thesemessaging applications. The messages can include text, images, videos,files, and/or other information. The messages typically travel from adevice of a first user to a chat server. The chat server then forwardsthe messages to a device of a second user.

In existing implementations, users are unable to use one chat messagingapplication to send chat messages to users on another chat messagingapplication. In other words, users are typically forced to use the samechat messaging application if they want to communicate with one another.As a result, if a first user is using a chat messaging application and asecond user is using a different chat messaging application, then thesetwo users are unable to send chat messages to one another.

This disclosure contemplates an unconventional system that allows userson different chat messaging applications to send chat messages to oneanother using their respective, but different chat messagingapplications. The system includes a cross-platform messaging tool thatperforms natural language processing on chat messages and thencommunicates those messages or responses to those messages to other chatmessaging applications. In this manner, the tool is able to relaymessages from one chat messaging application to other, different chatmessaging applications. By performing natural language processing onreceived messages, the tool reduces the load on the chat system (e.g.,by removing certain words from messages, by preventing certain messagesfrom being sent, and/or by generating automatic messages and/orresponses).

According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory and ahardware processor. The memory stores natural language processing rules.The hardware processor receives a first message from a first chatapplication of a first user and parses the first message to determine aplurality of words in the first message. The processor determines, basedon the plurality of words and the natural language processing rules, anintent of the first user and communicates a second message to the firstchat application of the first user indicating the intent. The processoralso receives a third message from the first chat application confirmingthe intent and in response to the third message, determines, based onthe plurality of words, an action and an object. The processor furtherdetermines, based on the intent, a processing application andcommunicates a fourth message that includes the action and the object tothe processing application. The processor also receives a fifth messagefrom the processing application that indicates the results of performingthe action on the object and communicates the fifth message to the firstchat application. The processor receives a sixth message from a secondchat application of a second user. The second chat application is adifferent chat application from the first chat application. Theprocessor communicates the sixth message to the first chat application.According to another embodiment, a method includes storing, by a memory,natural language processing rules and receiving, by a hardware processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory, a first message from a first chatapplication of a first user. The method also includes parsing, by thehardware processor, the first message to determine a plurality of wordsin the first message and determining, by the hardware processor, basedon the plurality of words and the natural language processing rules, anintent of the first user. The method further includes communicating, bythe hardware processor, a second message to the first chat applicationof the first user indicating the intent and receiving, by the hardwareprocessor, a third message from the first chat application confirmingthe intent. The method also includes in response to the third message,determining, by the hardware processor, based on the plurality of words,an action and an object and determining, by the hardware processor,based on the intent, a processing application. The method furtherincludes communicating, by the hardware processor, a fourth message thatincludes the action and the object to the processing application andreceiving, by the hardware processor, a fifth message from theprocessing application that indicates the results of performing theaction on the object. The method also includes communicating, by thehardware processor, the fifth message to the first chat application andreceiving, by the hardware processor, a sixth message from a second chatapplication of a second user. The second chat application is a differentchat application from the first chat application. The method alsoincludes communicating, by the hardware processor, the sixth message tothe first chat application.

According to yet another embodiment, a system includes a first device, asecond device, a server, and a messaging tool. The first device of afirst user executes a first chat application. The second device of asecond user executes a second chat application. The second chatapplication is a different chat application than the first chatapplication. The server hosts a plurality of processing applications.The messaging tool stores natural language processing rules and receivesa first message from the first chat application. The messaging toolparses the first message to determine a plurality of words in the firstmessage and determines, based on the plurality of words and the naturallanguage processing rules, an intent of the first user. The messagingtool also communicates a second message to the first chat application ofthe first user indicating the intent and receives a third message fromthe first chat application confirming the intent. The messaging toolfurther in response to the third message, determines, based on theplurality of words, an action and an object and determines, based on theintent, a processing application of the plurality of processingapplications. The messaging tool also communicates a fourth message thatincludes the action and the object to the server and receives a fifthmessage from the server that indicates the results of performing theaction on the object using the determined processing application. Themessaging tool communicates the fifth message to the first chatapplication, receives a sixth message from the second chat application,and communicates the sixth message to the first chat application.

Certain embodiments provide one or more technical advantages. Forexample, an embodiment allows users on a first chat messagingapplication to send chat messages, using the first chat messagingapplication, to users on a second, different chat messaging application.As another example, an embodiment allows for message load to be reducedthrough natural language processing. Certain embodiments may includenone, some, or all of the above technical advantages. One or more othertechnical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the artfrom the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example cross-platform messaging tool of thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sending cross-platformchat messages using the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages are bestunderstood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

Users of computers and mobile devices use various chat messagingapplications to communicate with one another. These users can use thesemessaging applications to send messages to other users on thesemessaging applications. The messages can include text, images, videos,files, and/or other information. The messages typically travel from adevice of a first user to a chat server. The chat server then forwardsthe messages to a device of a second user.

In existing implementations, users are unable to use one chat messagingapplication to send chat messages to users on another chat messagingapplication. In other words, users are typically forced to use the samechat messaging application if they want to communicate with one another.As a result, if a first user is using a chat messaging application and asecond user is using a different chat messaging application, then thesetwo users are unable to send chat messages to one another.

This disclosure contemplates an unconventional system that allows userson different chat messaging applications to send chat messages to oneanother using their respective, but different chat messagingapplications. The system includes a cross-platform messaging tool thatperforms natural language processing on chat messages and thencommunicates those messages or responses to those messages to other chatmessaging applications. In this manner, the tool is able to relaymessages from one chat messaging application to other, different chatmessaging applications. By performing natural language processing onreceived messages, the tool reduces the load on the chat system (e.g.,by removing certain words from messages, by preventing certain messagesfrom being sent, and/or by generating automatic messages and/orresponses). The system and the messaging tool will be described in moredetail using FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100. As seen in FIG. 1, system 100includes one or more users 105, one or more devices 110, a network 115,a server 117, and a cross-platform messaging tool 120. Generally, system100 allows users on different chat messaging applications to communicatewith each other through their respective but different chat messagingapplications. In certain embodiments, system 100 also performs naturallanguage processing on messages to reduce the messaging load in system100.

Users 105 use devices 110 to send chat messages to other users 105. Forexample, user 105A may communicate messages to users 105B or 105C usinga chat messaging application 110A. Each user 105 may use any device thatexecutes chat messaging applications to communicate with other users105.

Devices 110 are used to execute chat messaging applications 112. Insystem 100, each user 105 has one or more devices 110. For example, user105A uses devices 110A, user 105B uses devices 110B, and user 105C usesdevices 110C. Each device 110 executes its own respective chat messagingapplication 112. For example, device 110A executes application 112A,device 110B executes application 112B, and device 110C executesapplication 112C. The chat messaging applications 112 may be used tosend and receive messages to and from users 105 in system 100. Thesemessages may include text, images, videos, files and/or otherinformation.

In existing implementations, chat messaging applications 112 may not beable to send and/or receive messages to and from other chat messagingapplications 112 if those chat messaging applications 112 are different.For example, user 105A may be using a chat messaging application 112Athat communicates with a particular chat server. That chat server maynot be configured to communicate messages to a different chat messagingapplication, such as chat messaging application 112C of user 105C.Similarly, user 105C may not use chat messaging application 112C tocommunicate messages to user 105A or application 112A. As a result,users 105A and 105C are not able to communicate with each other throughtheir respective chat messaging applications 112, because those chatmessaging applications 112 are different from each other and communicatewith different servers that are not capable of communicating with eachother.

Devices 110 include any appropriate device for communicating withcomponents of system 100 over network 115. For example, devices 110 maybe a telephone, a mobile phone, a computer, a laptop, a tablet, anautomated assistant, and/or a cash register. This disclosurecontemplates device 110 being any appropriate device for sending andreceiving communications over network 115. As an example and not by wayof limitation, device 110 may be a computer, a laptop, a wireless orcellular telephone, an electronic notebook, a personal digitalassistant, a tablet, or any other device capable of receiving,processing, storing, and/or communicating information with othercomponents of system 100. Device 110 may also include a user interface,such as a display, a microphone, keypad, or other appropriate terminalequipment usable by user 105. In some embodiments, an applicationexecuted by device 110 may perform the functions described herein.

Network 115 facilitates communication between and amongst the variouscomponents of system 100. This disclosure contemplates network 115 beingany suitable network operable to facilitate communication between thecomponents of system 100. Network 115 may include any interconnectingsystem capable of transmitting audio, video, signals, data, messages, orany combination of the preceding. Network 115 may include all or aportion of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public orprivate data network, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a local, regional, or globalcommunication or computer network, such as the Internet, a wireline orwireless network, an enterprise intranet, or any other suitablecommunication link, including combinations thereof, operable tofacilitate communication between the components.

Server 117 hosts one or more processing applications 118. Generally,applications 118 perform certain functions in response to messagescommunicated to server 117. For example, a message may identify aparticular application 118 hosted by server 117. The message may alsoinclude information that will allow the identified application 118 toperform a requested action. After the identified application 118performs the requested action, the application 118 may generate andcommunicate another message to indicate the results of the processing.For example, application 118A may determine the resource usage in system100. If a user, such as user 105A, communicates a message requesting theresource usage in system 100, that message may be communicated toapplication 118A. In response to that message, application 118A mayinitiate processes that determine resource usage in other components ofsystem 100. For example, application 118A may start processes on onemore devices 110, network 115, and/or cross-platform messaging tool 120to determine the resources that are being used in these components. Forexample, application 118A may determine processor, memory and bandwidthusage in these components. After application 118A determines theresource usage in system 100, application 118A may generate andcommunicate to user 105A a message indicating the resource usage.

Cross-platform messaging tool 120 generally allows different chatmessaging applications 112 to communicate with each other. As seen inFIG. 1, cross-platform messaging tool 120 includes processor 125 andmemory 130. This disclosure contemplates processor 125 and memory 130being configured to perform any of the functions of cross-platformmessaging tool 120 described herein. In certain embodiments, messagingtool 120 allows different applications 112 to communicate with eachother and reduces the overall messaging load in system 100 throughnatural language processing.

Processor 125 is any electronic circuitry, including, but not limited tomicroprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),application specific instruction set processor (ASIP), and/or statemachines, that communicatively couples to memory 130 and controls theoperation of automation tool 125. Processor 125 may be 8-bit, 16-bit,32-bit, 64-bit or of any other suitable architecture. Processor 125 mayinclude an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) for performing arithmetic andlogic operations, processor registers that supply operands to the ALUand store the results of ALU operations, and a control unit that fetchesinstructions from memory and executes them by directing the coordinatedoperations of the ALU, registers and other components. Processor 125 mayinclude other hardware and software that operates to control and processinformation. Processor 125 executes software stored on memory to performany of the functions described herein. Processor 125 controls theoperation and administration of messaging tool 120 by processinginformation received from devices 110, network 115, and memory 130.Processor 125 may be a programmable logic device, a microcontroller, amicroprocessor, any suitable processing device, or any suitablecombination of the preceding. Processor 125 is not limited to a singleprocessing device and may encompass multiple processing devices.

Memory 130 may store, either permanently or temporarily, data,operational software, or other information for processor 125. Memory 130may include any one or a combination of volatile or non-volatile localor remote devices suitable for storing information. For example, memory130 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, or any other suitableinformation storage device or a combination of these devices. Thesoftware represents any suitable set of instructions, logic, or codeembodied in a computer-readable storage medium. For example, thesoftware may be embodied in memory 130, a disk, a CD, or a flash drive.In particular embodiments, the software may include an applicationexecutable by processor 125 to perform one or more of the functionsdescribed herein.

Messaging tool 120 stores one more natural language processing rules135.

These rules 135 may be used to determine the subject and/or intent of amessage communicated by a chat application 112. Rules 135 may alsoindicate the appropriate response to particular messages communicated bya chat application 112. In some embodiments, rules 135 can also be usedto filter words (e.g., profanity and gibberish) out of received messagesand/or to edit words in received messages (e.g., correcting spellingand/or grammar). In certain embodiments, rules 135 can also be used toreject received messages, such as for example, when a particular user105 sends too many messages in a certain period of time. In this manner,rules 135 can be used to reduce the messaging load on messaging tool120.

Messaging tool 120 implements a messaging queue 140. Messaging queue 140generally stores messages received from chat messaging applications 112in the order that those messages are received. Messaging tool 120 canretrieve messages from queue 140 for processing in the order that themessages were received. In this manner, queue 140 allows messaging tool120 to receive multiple messages without needing to process thosemessages at the same time. Rather, messaging tool 120 may process thosemessages sequentially and communicate responses to those messagessequentially. In this manner, messaging tool 120 is protected from beingoverflooded by messages in system 100.

Cross-platform messaging tool 120 receives a message 145 from a chatapplication 112. Messaging tool 120 may retrieve message 145 from queue140. In the example of FIG. 1, application 112A communicates message 145to messaging tool 120. Message 145 enters queue 140. Messaging tool 120then retrieves message 145 from queue 140. Message 145 may be a chatmessage generated by a user 105. The message 145 may be intended foranother user 105 in system 100. Message 145 include any information suchas text, image, videos, files and/or other information.

Messaging tool 120 parses message 145 to determine one or more words 150that are in message 145. In the example of FIG. 1, messaging tool 120parses message 145 to determine words 150A, 150B, and 150C. These words150 may appear somewhere in message 145. Messaging tool 120 may use astored dictionary and/or rules 135 to determine which words 150 inmessage 145 are significant. Words 150 can be used and/or analyzed todetermine how messages 145 should be processed and/or responded to.

Messaging tool 120 may use rules 135 to analyze words 150 of message145. Based on this analysis, messaging tool 120 may determine an intent155 of message 145. For example, if message 145 requests resource usagein system 100, messaging tool 120 may determine that the intent 155 ofmessage 145 is to determine resource usage. In this instance, words 150may include “resource,” “usage,” “processing,” “bandwidth,” “memory,”and/or “much.” Based on these words, messaging tool 120 can determinethe intent 155 of message 145.

Messaging tool 120 may then generate message 160 to confirm theidentified intent 155. Using the previous example, message 160 may askwhether the user is trying to determine resource usage. Messaging tool120 may then communicate message 160 back to the user who sent message145 and/or to the chat application 112 that communicated message 145.

Messaging tool 120 may receive message 165 confirming the determinedintent 155. Message 165 may be communicated by the user 105 or chatapplication 112 that communicated message 145. In some embodiments,message 165 may be received by messaging tool 120 and placed in queue140 for subsequent processing. If message 165 does not confirm intent155, then messaging tool 120 may analyze words 150 again using rules 135to determine another intent 155. If message 165 confirms the determinedintent 155, then messaging tool 120 may proceed with the processing ofmessage 145. Messaging tool 120 may update rules 135 based on message165. For example, if message 165 indicates that the determined intent155 was incorrect, messaging tool 120 may update rules 135 so that thesame parsed words 150 do not subsequently result in the same, incorrectdetermination of intent 155. Messaging tool 120 may also update rules135 when message 165 indicates that the determined intent 155 wascorrect, so that future instances of words 150 will result in thecorrect determination of intent 155.

Messaging tool 120 may determine an action 170 and an object 175 basedon words 150. In some instances, action 170 is one of the words 150 andobject 175 is another one of the words 150 in message 145. Bydetermining the action 170 and the object 175, messaging tool 120 maydetermine a requested function to be performed. Using the previousexample, action 170 may be to determine resource usage and object 175may be system 100. This disclosure contemplates messaging tooldetermining any suitable action 170 and any suitable object 175.Generally, action 170 is a function to be performed and object 175 is acomponent on which the function is to be performed.

Messaging tool 120 may generate a message 180 that identifies action 170and object 175. Messaging tool 120 may then determine a processingapplication 118 based on intent 155. For example, if intent 155indicates that message 145 is requesting resource usage, message 180 mayidentify a processing application 118 that determines resource usage.Messaging tool 120 then communicates message 180 to server 117 and thedetermined application 118. In some embodiments, message 180 mayidentify the determined application 118 so that server 117 can forwardmessage 180 to the determined application 118.

Messaging tool 120 receives a response message 185 from server 117indicating the results of performing the action 170 on object 175indicated by message 180. For example, message 185 may indicate theresource usage of system 100. Messaging tool 120 may then communicatemessage 185 to one or more chat applications 112. For example, messagingtool 120 may communicate message 185 to the chat application 112 thatcommunicated message 145. As another example, message 145 may indicatean intended recipient other than the sender of message 145. Messagingtool 120 may communicate message 185 to the chat application 112 of theintended recipient.

In some instances, messaging tool 120 may relay a message to a differentchat application. In the example of FIG. 1, messaging tool 120 receivesand retrieves a message 190 from queue 140. Message 190 may have beencommunicated by chat application 112A and user 105A. Message 190 mayindicate an intended recipient that is different from user 105A and chatapplication 112A. In these instances, messaging tool 120 may forwardmessage 190 to the intended recipient. In the example of FIG. 1,messaging tool 120 sends message 190 to chat application 112C of user105C. Chat application 112C may be different from chat application 112A.As a result, chat application 112A may not normally be able tocommunicate message 190 to chat application 112C. However, messagingtool 120 allows chat application 112A to communicate message 190 to chatapplication 112C. As a result, user 105A can communicate with user 105Cthrough their respective chat applications 112, even though those chatapplications 112 are different from one another. In some instances,messaging tool 120 may communicate message 190 to a different chatapplication 112 of the sending user. Using the example of FIG. 1,messaging tool 120 may communicate message 190 to a chat application 112of user 105 that is different from chat application 112A, whichcommunicated message 190 to messaging tool 120. In this manner, a user,such as user 105A, is able to communicate messages from one chatapplication 112 to another different chat application 112 of user 105A.

In certain embodiments, by using messaging tool 120, different chatapplications 112 can communicate messages to one another. Additionally,messaging tool 120 may reduce the overall messaging load in system 100by performing natural language processing on received messages. Forexample, certain responses may be generated and communicated to chatapplications 112 by messaging tool 120 after they have been processed byapplications 118. In this manner, messages to and from other users maynot be needed to respond to a message communicated by a chat application112.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example cross platform messaging tool 120 of thesystem 100 of FIG. 1. Generally, messaging tool 120 allows differentchat applications to communicate messages to one another. Additionally,messaging tool 120 performs natural language processing on receivedmessages to reduce the message load in system 100.

Messaging tool 120 implements queue 140 to manage incoming messages. Asseen in FIG. 2, messaging tool 120 may receive messages from one or morechat applications 205A and 205B. Application 205A may be a differentchat application than chat application 205B. As a result, application205A may not normally be able to communicate messages to application205B. Messaging tool 120 allows application 205A to communicate messagesto application 205B.

Queue 140 receives messages from applications 205A and 205B. In theexample of FIG. 2, queue 140 receives message 145A. Message 145A may bea chat message that includes text, images, videos, files, and/or otherinformation. Queue 140 may receive message 145A from chat application205A or application 205B. Generally, queue 140 stores messages in theorder that they are retrieved so that messaging tool 120 can processthose messages in the order that they are received.

Messaging tool 120 parses message 145A to determine one or more words150 within message 145A. In the example of FIG. 2, messaging tool 120determines that words 150A, 150B, and 150C are in message 145A.Messaging tool 120 may use these parsed words 150 to determine certainaspects of message 145A.

Messaging tool 120 may use stored rules 135 to analyze words 150A, 150B,and 150C. Based on this analysis, messaging tool 120 may determine thatmessage 145A had an intent 155A. Intent 155A may indicate the purposeand/or the subject of message 145A. Messaging tool 120 may then generatea message 160A to confirm the determined intent 155A. Messaging tool 120may communicate message 160A to application 205A and/or application205B. In some instances, messaging tool 120 communicates message 160Aback to the application 205 that communicated message 145A.

Messaging tool 120 may receive, through queue 140, a message 165A thatconfirms or denies the determined intent 155A indicated by message 160A.If message 165A denies or rejects the determined intent 155A, messagingtool 120 may analyze words 150A, 150B, and 150C, again, using rules 135to determine another intent 155. If message 165A confirms the determinedintent 155 messaging tool 120 may continue processing message 145A.

Messaging tool 120 determines an action 170A and an object 175A fromwords 150A, 150B, and 150C. Action 170A may indicate an action orfunction to be performed on object 175A. Generally, messaging tool 120may determine how to process message 145A based on intent 155A, action170A, and object 175A. Messaging tool 120 may determine a processingapplication 118 to perform action 170A on object 175A. For example, ifintent 155A is to determine resource usage then messaging tool 120 maycommunicate a message to a processing application 118 that determinesresource usage.

Messaging tool 120 generates message 180A to communicate action 170A andobject 175A to a server 117. In some embodiments, message 180A mayidentify a processing application 118 determined using intent 155A.Messaging tool 120 may communicate message 180A to server 117.

Server 117 may process message 180A. For example, server 117 may forwardmessage 180A to an identified processing application 118 such asapplication 118A. The processing application 118 then performs theidentified action 170A on object 175A. After performing the requestedaction 170A, application 118A may generate and communicate message 185Ato messaging tool 120. Messaging tool 120 may communicate message 185Ato one or more chat applications 205. For example, messaging tool 120may communicate message 185A to application 205A and/or application205B, even though application 205A and application 205B are different.

Application 205A and application 205B may be executed by differentdevices and/or by different users. In some instances, applications 205Aand 205B are run by the same device and/or the same user.

Messaging tool 120 may perform natural language processing to reduce themessage load on messaging tool 120 in some embodiments. As shown in theexample of FIG. 2, messaging tool 120 receives through queue 140 amessage 145B. Messaging tool 120 then parses message 145B to determinewords 150D, 150E, and 150F. Messaging tool 120 may then apply rules 135on words 150D, 150E, and 150F to perform certain actions. For example,messaging tool 120 may remove or delete word 150D based on rules 135.This may occur because rule 150D may be determined to be gibberishand/or profanity according to rules 135. By removing word 150D,messaging tool 120 reduces the number of words 150 to be analyzed and/orimproves the accuracy of intent 155B, action 170B, and object 175B. Asanother example, messaging tool 120 edits word 150F based on rules 135.For example, messaging tool 120 may correct the spelling of word 150Fbased on rules 135. By correcting and/or editing word 150F messagingtool 120 may improve the accuracy of determining intent, actions, andobjects, based on words 150D, 150E, and 150F. In this manner, the loadon messaging tool 120 is reduced.

Messaging tool 120 may then determine an intent 155B for words 150E and150F using rules 135. The intent 155B may indicate the purpose orsubject of messages 145B. Messaging tool 120 may then generate andcommunicate message 160B to confirm the determined intent 155B.Messaging tool 120 may communicate message 160B to application 205Aand/or application 205B.

Messaging tool 120 receives messaging 165B through queue 140. Message165B may confirm or deny the determined intent 155B. If message 165Bdenies intent 155B, messaging tool 120 may analyze words 150E and 150F,again, using rules 135 to determine another intent 155B. If message 165Bconfirms intent 155B, messaging tool 120 may continue processing message145B.

Messaging tool 120 determines action 170B and object 175B based on words150E and 150F. Messaging tool 120 may also determine a processingapplication based on the confirmed intent 155B. Messaging tool 120 maythen generate messages 180B, identifying action 170B, and object 175B.Message 180D may also identify the identified processing application.Messaging tool 120 communicates message 180B to server 117. Server 117forwards message 180B to the identified application 118. The application118 then performs the action 170B on object 175B. Server 117 generatesmessage 185B that identifies the results of performing action 170B onobject 175B. Server 117 communicates message 185B to messaging tool 120.Messaging tool 120 communicates message 185B to one or more ofapplication 205A and/or 205B.

In some embodiments, messaging tool 120 may reject a received messagebased on rules 135. In the example of FIG. 2, messaging tool 120receives message 145C through queue 140. Rules 135 may indicate thatmessage 145C should be rejected, and in response, messaging tool 120rejects message 145C. For example, rules 135 may limit the number ofmessages that a particular application 205 may communicate to messagingtool 120 in a certain period of time. Message 145C may exceed the numberof messages in that period of time, and so, messaging tool 120 rejectsmessage 145C. As another example, rules 135 may indicate that messagescontaining certain words, such as profanity, should be rejected. Inresponse, messaging tool 120 may reject message 145C because it containsprofanity.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 for sendingcross-platform chat messages using the system 100 of FIG. 1. In certainembodiments, messaging tool 120 performs method 300. By performingmethod 300, messaging tool 120 allows different chat messagingapplications to communicate with one another and reduces the messagingload on the system.

Messaging tool 120 begins by storing natural language processing rulesin step 305. In step 310, messaging tool 120 receives a first messagefrom a first chat application of a first user. The first message mayrequest a certain action be performed on a certain object. Messagingtool 120 parses the first message in step 315. By parsing the firstmessage, messaging tool 120 may identify one or more words in the firstmessage. In step 320, messaging tool 120 determines an intent of thefirst user. Messaging tool 120 may determine the intent by using thewords parsed from the first message and the natural language processingrules.

Messaging tool 120 communicates a second message indicating the intentin step 325. The second message may be communicated to the first chatapplication. In step 330, messaging tool 120 receives a third messageconfirming the intent. Messaging tool 120 determines an action and anobject using the words parsed from the first message in step 335. Instep 340, messaging tool 120 determines a processing application basedon the determined intent.

In step 345, messaging tool 120 communicates a fourth message to theprocessing application indicating the action and the object. Theprocessing application may be hosted by a server that is separate frommessaging tool 120. The fourth message may be communicated to the serverand the server may forward the message to the determined processingapplication. In step 350, messaging tool receives a fifth messageindicating the result of performing the action on the object. The fifthmessage may be generated by the server that hosted the processingapplication. Messaging tool 120 communicates the fifth message to thefirst chat application in step 355.

In step 360, messaging tool 120 receives a sixth message from a secondchat application of a second user. The second chat application may be adifferent chat application than the first chat application. Normally,the second chat application cannot communicate messages to the firstchat application and vice versa. In step 365, messaging tool 120communicates that sixth message to the first chat application. In thismanner, messages from the second chat application are relayed to thefirst chat application.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 300depicted in FIG. 3. Method 300 may include more, fewer, or other steps.For example, steps may be performed in parallel or in any suitableorder. While discussed as messaging tool 120 performing the steps, anysuitable component of system 100, such as device(s) 110 for example, mayperform one or more steps of the methods.

Although the present disclosure includes several embodiments, a myriadof changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modificationsmay be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that thepresent disclosure encompass such changes, variations, alterations,transformations, and modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a memory configured tostore natural language processing rules; and a hardware processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory, the hardware processor configuredto: receive a first message from a first chat application of a firstuser; parse the first message to determine a plurality of words in thefirst message; determine, based on the plurality of words and thenatural language processing rules, an intent of the first user;communicate a second message to the first chat application of the firstuser indicating the intent; receive a third message from the first chatapplication confirming the intent; in response to the third message,determine, based on the plurality of words, an action and an object;determine, based on the intent, a processing application; communicate afourth message comprising the action and the object to the processingapplication; receive a fifth message from the processing applicationthat indicates the results of performing the action on the object;communicate the fifth message to the first chat application; receive asixth message from a second chat application of a second user, thesecond chat application is a different chat application from the firstchat application; communicate the sixth message to the first chatapplication; parse the sixth message to determine a plurality of wordsin the sixth message; determine, based on the plurality of words in thesixth message and the natural language processing rules, an intent ofthe second user; determine, based on the plurality of words in the sixthmessage, an action and an object in the second message; determine, basedon the intent of the second user, a second processing application;receive a seventh message from the second processing application thatindicates the results of performing the action in the second message onthe object in the second message; and communicate the seventh message tothe first chat application.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thehardware processor is further configured implement a queue.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is furtherconfigured to remove a word from the sixth message based on the naturallanguage processing rules before communicating the sixth message to thefirst chat application.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thehardware processor is further configured to communicate the sixthmessage to the second chat application of the first user.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is furtherconfigured to correct a word from the sixth message before communicatingthe sixth message to the first chat application.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to receivethe first message from a queue.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theaction determined in response to the third message is a word in thethird message.
 8. A method comprising: storing, by a memory, naturallanguage processing rules; and receiving, by a hardware processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory, a first message from a first chatapplication of a first user; parsing, by the hardware processor, thefirst message to determine a plurality of words in the first message;determining, by the hardware processor, based on the plurality of wordsand the natural language processing rules, an intent of the first user;communicating, by the hardware processor, a second message to the firstchat application of the first user indicating the intent; receiving, bythe hardware processor, a third message from the first chat applicationconfirming the intent; in response to the third message, determining, bythe hardware processor, based on the plurality of words, an action andan object; determining, by the hardware processor, based on the intent,a processing application; communicating, by the hardware processor, afourth message comprising the action and the object to the processingapplication; receiving, by the hardware processor, a fifth message fromthe processing application that indicates the results of performing theaction on the object; communicating, by the hardware processor, thefifth message to the first chat application; receiving, by the hardwareprocessor, a sixth message from a second chat application of a seconduser, the second chat application is a different chat application fromthe first chat application; communicating, by the hardware processor,the sixth message to the first chat application; parsing, by thehardware processor, the sixth message to determine a plurality of wordsin the sixth message; determining, by the hardware processor, based onthe plurality of words in the sixth message and the natural languageprocessing rules, an intent of the second user; determining, by thehardware processor, based on the plurality of words in the sixthmessage, an action and an object in the second message; determining, bythe hardware processor, based on the intent of the second user, a secondprocessing application; receiving, by the hardware processor, a seventhmessage from the second processing application that indicates theresults of performing the action in the second message on the object inthe second message; and communicating, by the hardware processor, theseventh message to the first chat application.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising implementing a queue.
 10. The method of claim 8,further comprising removing, by the hardware processor, a word from thesixth message based on the natural language processing rules beforecommunicating the sixth message to the first chat application.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising communicating, by the hardwareprocessor, the sixth message to the second chat application of the firstuser.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising correcting, by thehardware processor, a word from the sixth message before communicatingthe sixth message to the first chat application.
 13. The method of claim8, further comprising receiving, by the hardware processor, the firstmessage from a queue.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the actiondetermined in response to the third message is a word in the thirdmessage.
 15. A system comprising: a first device of a first user, thefirst device configured to execute a first chat application; a seconddevice of a second user, the second device configured to execute asecond chat application, the second chat application is a different chatapplication than the first chat application; a server configured to hosta plurality of processing applications; and a messaging tool configuredto: store natural language processing rules; receive a first messagefrom the first chat application; parse the first message to determine aplurality of words in the first message; determine, based on theplurality of words and the natural language processing rules, an intentof the first user; communicate a second message to the first chatapplication of the first user indicating the intent; receive a thirdmessage from the first chat application confirming the intent; inresponse to the third message, determine, based on the plurality ofwords, an action and an object; determine, based on the intent, aprocessing application of the plurality of processing applications;communicate a fourth message comprising the action and the object to theserver; receive a fifth message from the server that indicates theresults of performing the action on the object using the determinedprocessing application; communicate the fifth message to the first chatapplication; receive a sixth message from the second chat application;communicate the sixth message to the first chat application; parse thesixth message to determine a plurality of words in the sixth message;determine, based on the plurality of words in the sixth message and thenatural language processing rules, an intent of the second user;determine, based on the plurality of words in the sixth message, anaction and an object in the second message; determine, based on theintent of the second user, a second processing application; receive aseventh message from the second processing application that indicatesthe results of performing the action in the second message on the objectin the second message; and communicate the seventh message to the firstchat application.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the messaging toolis further configured implement a queue.
 17. The system of claim 15,wherein the messaging tool is further configured to remove a word fromthe sixth message based on the natural language processing rules beforecommunicating the sixth message to the first chat application.
 18. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the messaging tool is further configured tocommunicate the sixth message to the second chat application of thefirst user.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the messaging tool isfurther configured to correct a word from the sixth message beforecommunicating the sixth message to the first chat application.
 20. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the messaging tool is further configured toreceive the first message from a queue.
 21. The system of claim 15,wherein the action determined in response to the third message is a wordin the third message.